Annunciator system



Feb. 28, 1939. L. J. STEVENS ANNUNCIATOR SYSTEM Filed April 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIP-IIIIIII .Fgf. 5.

INVENTCR. {w x QYW A TTORNEY.

Feb- 28, 1939- L. J. STEVENS 2,148,913

ANNUNC IATOR SYS TEM Filed April 3, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I VENTOR.

BY I

A TTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,148,913 momma srsmr Leo J. Stevens, San Francisco, 6am. Application April 3, 1935, Serial No. 14,481

2 Claims. (01. 177-336) This invention relates to improvements in annunciator systems and pertains particularly to a system in which all operations of the system may be observed from one station thereof.

In the operation of elevators, and particularly where more than one elevator is used, it is customary to employ annunciator systems which comprise push button switches located at the several floors served by the elevators and genl0 erally referred to as hall buttons. These hall buttons are operable by waiting passengers to actuate a signal in a car approaching the floor on which the button is pressed or in some cases to cause the car to stop automatically when it reaches the floor. In either event the hall button may also control a signal at a central station,

such, for example, as on a panel disposed on the main floor in view of an attendant whose duty it is to dispatch the elevator cars. With the aid of these signals and other signals apprising the dispatcher of the positions of the various cars, it is possible to accelerate the service to waiting passengers.

In my co-pending application entitled Annun- 038, I have described a system in which the dis= patchers signals operated by the hall buttons are caused to operate intermittently a predetermined period of time after the button has been actuated, so that the dispatcher is informed that a passenger has waited. longer than is desired and may direct a car promptly to answer the call.

it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved system of the kind described in my said co-pending application, to provide a system in which simple and inexpensive mechanism will cause automatic signalling to occur after the lapse of succeeding time intervals and o to provide a system in which counting devices may be employed to register the total number of calls passing over the system and to register separately the numbers of calls for which the different time interval signals were placed in 5 operation.

For purposes of illustration I have chosen to show and describe my invention as used in connection with elevators. However, as the description proceeds it will appear that the invention 50, is adapted to use in connection with telephones, hospital call systems, and various other things where annunciator systems are employed.

One form of my invention is exemplified in the accompanying drawings, to which reference 55 is made in the following specification. In the ciators, filed May 15, 1933, Serial Number B'll,-=

specification further of the objects and advantages of my invention are made apparent.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the operating mechanism of an annunciator system, constructed in accordance with my in vention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of certain parts shown in Fig. 1, illustrating their positions at a different stage of operation oi the mechanism. in

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram 01 one unit of the annunciator system with the, operating mecha nism illustrated schematically.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one end of a bani: of the units shown in l; Fig. :i is a wiring diagram showing a plurality of the annunciator units in a circuit.

In Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, I show structure which includes the switches for operating the signals, the switches for operating the countas ing devices, and the timing mechanism for con trolling all of these switches selectively in proper sequence and at predetermined time intervals. The mechanism for one hall button is illustrated in Fig. l and such mechanisms are adapted to be gr; arranged in banks as illustrated. in Fig. 4, there being an identical such mechanism for each hall or fiocr.

In Fig. a vertically reciprocable rod is illustrated as loosely mounted in a bushing ii at its lower end, which is received in an enlarged hole 22 permitting lateral movement of the rod with respect to a supper base 13 upon which the device is mounted. Mae upper end of the rod passes through a hole i which is 35 also enlarged to permit lateral movement of the rod in a bracket iii carried by a vertical wall l6 supported in an upright position relative to the base it. The rod I0 is shown as round in cross section but may be of any shape desired. A pair of horizontally disposed shafts l! and I8, either one or both of which may be continuously rotated by a motor l9 (see Fig. 2) through re duction gearing 20, carry friction rollers 2i and 22, respectively. 5

These friction rollers are preferably formed of soft material, such, for example, as rubber, and may if desired be grooved to fit the rod 16.

Normally the reciprocable rod i9 is disposed closely adjacent to but not in contact with the 59 rotating rollers 2| and 22. In order that the rod may be pressed into engagement with the friction rollers to be advanced upwardly by their rotation, an idler roller 23 is carried by one end of a bell crank 24 adjacent the opposite side of the rod it. The bell crank is pivotally mounted on a shaft 25 and also has a pivotal connection 25 with a post 2? fixed to a lever 28. One end of the lever 28 is supported on a pawl 25 and its opposite end is connected by a rod 38 with the armature 3! or a solenoid generally indicated at 32 and supported on a plate 38 disposed above the main base plate i3. A collar 35 on the lower end of the rod 38 engages the lever 2t to swing'it upwardly upon upward movement of the armature 3i and means such as an arm 35 is provided to connect the lever and rod for downward movement. The arm 35 is preferably of resilient material to prevent undue shock when the armature is allowed to drop. When the hall button which controls this mechanism is pressed, a circuit is closed which energizes the-solenoid 32 to raise the armature 3i thereof, thereby swinging the lever 23 upwardly and moving the bell crank 26 about its pivot 25. This causes the idler roller 23 to engage the rod l0 and force it into contact with the rotating friction rollers 2i and 22, the direction of rotation of these rollers being such as to cause the rod to move upwardly. This rod will move upwardly continuously at a slow rate of speed, until the solenoid 32 is deenergized or until it reaches its topmost position, whereupon the mechanism hereinafter to be described will cause it to be returned to its starting point. A plate 35, suspended from the base l3 by posts 35*, limits the downward movement of the rod.

During the upward movement of the rod i0 it engages and actuates switches generally indicated at 36, 31, 38 and 38. These switches are supported by brackets 40 which may be secured to the wall i6 for adjustment along a vertically disposed slot M by means of screws 82 which serve to draw separable halves of the brackets into clamping engagement with the wall adjacent the slots.

The three switches shown at 36, 35 and 39 serve the purpose of closing circuits momentarily through solenoids, diagrammatically illustrated at 46 in Fig. 3, to actuate counting devices ll. Each of these switches is shown as comprising three resilient conductor arms 48, B9 and 5B. The arms 48 and 50 carry normally open contact points 5i while the arms 59 and 50 carry normally closed contact points 52. The three arms are clamped between and supported in spaced relation by dielectric blocks 53 and the uppermost arm 48 extends to a position where it may be engaged by a pivoted lever 56 supported by the bracket 40 and having an end, preferably provided with an anti-friction roller 55, disposed in position for engagement by the rod Hi during its upward movement. Either the lever 54 or roller 55 or both should be formed of a non-conducting material. Such engagement will rock the lever 54 and flex the arm 58 downwardly. The initial downward flexing of the arm 48 closes the contacts 5! to complete a circuit through armed, contacts 5!, arm 50, contacts 52, and arm 59. After contact of points 5! has been established farther downward movement of the arm 48 imparts movement to arm 50 and presently causes breaking of the points 52 to open the circuit. The result is a momentary energization of the solenoid 46, to actuate the counting device 41, and return either by gravity or under spring pressure to its normal position.

The function of the switch 31 and of a similar switch 60 carried by the lever 28 is to control circuits through current interrupters or blinker switches BI and 62. These blinker switches shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3 may be of any desired type and in the form shown comprise rotors 63 having peripherally spaced lobes 5 3 to cause intermittent closing of points 65 one of which is carried by a spring arm 55. The in- 5 terrupter '5! is shown as having less lobes and greater spaces between its lobes than the interrupter 62. The former may for this reason be referred to as the "slow blinker and the latter as the "fast blinker. Any suitable means may be 10 employed for rotating the blinker rotors and. l

have chosen as illustrated in Fig. 4 to position them on a shaft 61 driven through the reduction gearing 20 of the motor i9.

The switches 37 and 5B are shown as compris- 15 ing spaced conductor arms 68 and 69 having a flexible conductor arm it disposed'between them, all being suitably clamped between dielectric blocks H. In the switch 3? the arms 5% and iii carry normally closed contact points '72 and the 20 arms it and 59 carry normally open points it. The points 72 are opened and the points 83 are closed upon contact of the rod in with the outerend of the lever 56 connected with the flexible conductor arm iii. In the switch 60 the central 25 flexible arm '10 is connected at its outer end with a pin i5 depending from the bell crank 25 and extending through an opening it in the lever 28.

A coil spring Tl surrounding the pin 15 bears downwardly on the arm 10 normally to close 30 point 18 carried by the arms 69 and 10. Contact points 79 on the arms 63 and ill will be closed upon release of the lever 28 by the pawl 29, as will hereinafter be described, causing the parts to move to the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

An understanding of the manner in which the system operates may best be had from reference to Fig. 3, wherein a signal is shown in the form of a lamp 80. This lamp 80 will be mounted on a panel in view of the elevator dispatcher, and may be used in combination with suitable indicia to inform the dispatcher as to the number of the floor upon which the hall button has been pressed. There will of course be a similar lamp for each floor, as well as similar mechanism to that above described, excepting the counters and blinker switches for operating each lamp. The hall button controlling the lamp 8B is shown at 8!, and upon being pressed will close a circuit through conductors 82 and 83 to energize the solenoid 84 which rocks a lever 85 about its pivotal support 86. I One end of the lever 85, which may be provided with an anti-friction roller 87, will close a switch 88 through a circuit which includes the lamp 8B. This circuit, which causes the lamp 80 to burn constantly, includes the wire 89 which leads through the lamp to wire and points 12 of the switch 3?. Wire 9! leads to the switch 60 and through, the closed points it thereof, thence to the wire 92, switch, 88 and wire 93. When the elevator stops at a fioor in answer to the signal, it closes a canceling switch 95, through conventional mechanism not here disclosed. to complete a circuit through wires Q6 and 97, energizing a solenoid 98 to return the lever 85 to the position in which it is shown, thus breaking the circuit which has been closed by the switch 88.

In order to produce intermittent energization or blinking of the lamp 80 in the event that the call isnot answered within a predetermined period of time, I provide a switch to be operated by movement of the lever 85 to start the rod Ill on its course of gradual upward movement. This switch, which may be of any suitable type, is here lever to energize the lamp the switch will close rollers 2I and 22, begins its upward movement.

Disr'egarding for the present the action of the rod I0 on the counting devices, it will be apparent that upon the lapse of a predetermined time, for example, thirty seconds, the rod will actuate the switch 31, breaking the contact between the points I2 thereof and making contact with the points I3. In this position the switch 31 cuts the slow blinker 6| into circuit with the lamps 80 through wires I03 and I04. Assuming that the call is still unanswered, the rod I0 continues its upward movement until at its topmost position a collar 05 adjustably secured in a position adjacent its lower end, contacts the bushing i I and raises this bushing into engagement with the finger I06 carried by the pawl 29. This engagement trips the pawl 29, permitting the lever 28 supported thereby to fail to the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

Movement of the lever 28 to this position swings the idler roller 23 away from the rod M, whereupon the rod falls by gravity to its lower position, releasing the switch 31 and cutting out the slow blinker.

It is also afunction of this movement of the lever 28 to operate the switch 50, breaking the contact between the points I8 thereof and making contact between the points 79 thereof, thus cutting in the interrupter 62 through wires I01 and I05. The lamp 80 will then continue to operate through the fast blinker until the call is answered. The device may be regulated to operate the fast blinker switch upon the lapse of sixty seconds or any desired time period greaterv than that at which the slow blinker was operated. Either or both time periods may be varied by adjustment of the position of the switches, the speed of the friction rollers, and the position of the collar I05 on the rod I0.

Upon stopping of an elevator at the proper floor, the canceling switch 95 is closed to rock the lever and open the mercury switch Hi0. This de-energizes the solenoid 32, the armature 3| of which falls downwardly due to its own weight, rocking the lever 28 about the pivot 26, whereupon the free end of the lever will be raised to its original position of engagement with the pawl 20. In the event that the call is responded to at any time prior to the movement of the rod to its topmost position, the solenoid 32 will be de-energized in the manner described above, with the result that the lever 28 will be returned to its normal position illustrated in Fig. 3, moving the idler 23 away from the rod I0 and permitting the rod to return by gravity to its original position.

Counting mechanisms, one set of which will suflice for the entire system, may be employed to register the number of times that elevators have been called, to register the number of times that the calling passenger has had to wait more than forty seconds, and to register the number of times the passenger has been required to wait more than sixty seconds, these time periods of course being variable. Such counting mechanisms are illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings and may, of course, be supplemented by further counting mechanisms if desired, to keep a more detailed record of operation. The counters, which may be of any conventional form, are iiiustratedtat 41 and are actuated through the solenoids 46 with which they are suitably connected. The counter switch 36 which controls a circuit, including wires I08I09, to the first counter, is so positioned that the operating lever 54 thereof will be engaged by the rod I0 upon its initial upward movement. This counter will therefore register the total number of calls. Counter switch 38 may be positioned above the slow blinker switch 31, a distance which will be traversed by the rod I0 in ten seconds. This counter will therefore register the number of calls in which forty seconds elapsed and in which the slow blinker was placed in operation ten seconds before the call was responded to. The third counter switch, indicated at 39, is positioned for operation by the rod III as it attains its topmost position and at substantially the same time that the pawl I06 releases lever 28 to place the fast blinker in operation. Thus the counter which is controlled by the switch 39 will totaiize the number of calls where the passenger was required to wait sixty seconds, and the fast blinker was placed in operation. As the counter switches close a circuit momentarily only upon the upper movement of the rod I0, the re turn movement of the rod has no effect upon the counters.

The annunciator system above described is preferably to be used in connection with a separate system of any well known kind that advises the elevator dispatcher as to the position of any elevator at any time. With this system the dispatcher will be advised by illumination of a signal lamp when a call has been placed upon a certain floor. In large buildings, where the elevator trafiic is heavy it is not uncommon for many such calls to take place in a few seconds. If, due to the heavy traffic, a call is not responded to within thirty seconds, the indicator lamp will blink, notifying the dispatcher that a passenger has been waiting for an excessive period of time; whereupon he may dispatch an elevator directly to that floor, leaving other calls, more recently made, to be attended by other elevators on their usual route. In rush periods such as frequently occur at lunch-time and other busy times of the day, it may be impossible to answer all thirtyseoond signals promptly, and in that case any calls which are not responded to within sixty seconds will cause the fast blinker to operate and may be given preference over all other calls. The efficiency of the entire system may be judged and improved through a study of the totals registered by the several counting devices.

The invention described above is designed for ready adjustment to meet various conditions and requirements of particular elevator systems.

The timing of the entire annunciator system may be marked by adjustment of the speed of the motor l9 or the ratio of the reduction gearing 20. The time of operation of any counter or of the slow blinker may be varied by adjustment of their respective switches vertically of the supporting panel and the fast blinker will be brought into operation at a time depending upon the position of the collar I 05 which is adjustably mounted adjacent the lower end of the rod I0.

In-order that any desired number of the units illustrated in Fig. 3 may be used together to serve several fioors without possibility. of the operation of one unit interfering with that of the other, I wire the units in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. In this figure four units are illustrated,

but a will be readilvunde from the diagram that any iur'ther number of units could be added without alteration of the system shown. Electrical energy from any source is carried by main wires indicated at lit and it i. The current flows through the wires or which lead from the wire its to the lamps so then through the slow blinker switches 3?, fast hlinker switches til and through switches 88 controlled by the hall buttons to the main wire Hi. The slow bllnher switch 66 and the fast blinker switch edlmay be cut into the circuit by any one of the switches 37 and 6d, respectively. Due to the manner of wiring illustrated and due to the fact that the switches 3'6 and so are of the kind which as described above I break one circuit before they complete the other circuit, all possibility of interference between units or of the operation of one unit affecting the other in any manner, is eliminated.

While I have shown but one form of my invention and described the same more or less specifically, it should he understood that various changes may he resorted to in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, within the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

i. In an annunciator system of the character described having a signal, a plurality of switches corresponding to a plurality of registers and a second plurality of switchescorresponding to a plurality of circuit interrupters; a lever switchoperator for each switch, said levers being pivoted about an axis perpendicular to their lengths and being aligned in a plane perpendicular to their pivotal axes the pivots being spaced along a line perpendicular to the normal positions of the levers and lying in said plane, each of said lever switch-operators having a roller attached at one end, the axis of rotation of said roller being arcane parallel to the pivotal axis of the lever, a longitudinally reciprocating rod positioned to successively age said rollers, friction drive means for the rod, said means including a pair of driving wheels and a third wheel engaging the rod on opposite sides, the third wheel being normally out o! engagent with the rod, said friction drive means imparting a time controlled movement to said rod to successively actuate said lever switchoperators, and thus operate said counters and selectively energize said signal through an interrupter in accordance with the elapsed time following inltiation of the actuating means, said lever switch-operators being retained in actuated position when their rollers are in engagement with said rod.

2. In an annunciator system oi. the character described having a signal, a plurality of switches corresponding to a plurality of registers and a second plurality of switches corresponding to a plurality of circuit interrupters; a pivoted lever switch-operator for each switch, said levers having ends disposed in alignment, a longitudinally reciprocating rod positioned to successively engage said aligned ends, friction drive means for the rod, said means including a pair of driving wheels and a third wheel engaging the rod on opposite sides, the third wheel being normally out of engagement with the rod, said friction drive means imparting a time controlled movement to said rod to successively actuate said lever switchlever switch-operators being retained in actuv ated position when their ends are in engagement with said rod.

LEO J. STEVENS. 

